December 20, 2022 – The Health Industry Distributors Association recently celebrated the inclusion of provisions to strengthen pandemic preparedness and preserve lab services in the text of the omnibus appropriations act released by Congress.
The bipartisan provisions of the PREVENT Pandemics Act in the omnibus appropriations act will improve preparedness strategy and coordination while strengthening public-private partnerships. Specifically, the PREVENT Pandemics Act contains improvements to the healthcare supply chain, providing the Strategic National Stockpile with additional flexibility to partner with distributors and manufacturers.
The omnibus appropriations act also includes a revised phase-in of Medicare clinical laboratory test payment changes, which would postpone by one year cuts of up to 15% that are scheduled to go into effect for many common laboratory diagnostic services.
HIDA urged the inclusion of these provisions in a letter to Congressional leadership released on December 8. This most recent activity was the culmination of a year-long advocacy campaign by HIDA to engage its members to persuade Congress:
- HIDA worked with Senate Health Education Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee on key provisions of the PREVENT Pandemics Act in advance of committee markup of the legislation in March.
- In June, leaders from across the healthcare distribution industry convened in Washington for HIDA’s first in-person Washington Summit in three years. In more than 115 meetings on Capitol Hill, healthcare distributors urged passage of PREVENT Pandemics Act.
- In August, HIDA led a letter signed by two dozen healthcare organizations urging passage of the PREVENT Pandemics Act.
- HIDA led an online letter-writing campaign to Congress supporting passage of the PREVENT Pandemics Act which was featured at the annual Streamlining Healthcare Expo & Business Exchange in Chicago in September.
- HIDA educated Members of Congress on the benefits of laboratory services. Millions of Americans benefit from over 7 billion lab tests annually, and 70 percent of medical decisions are informed by the results.